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Ciprofloxacin

Ciprofloxacin (Cipro) is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic used for infections including infectious diarrhoea, urinary tract infections and bacterial eye infections. This catalogue lists it as tablets and eye drops: Cipro, Baycip, Ciprodex Ophthalmic Solution and Ciloxan Ophthalmic Solution.

Cipro

Bacterial Infections, Infectious Diarrhoea

250mg · 500mg · 750mg

Ciprofloxacin tablets for bacterial infections and infectious diarrhoea. It should not be taken with dairy or calcium-fortified drinks, as they reduce absorption.

From$0.49/ tabletView

Baycip

Urinary Tract Infections, Bacterial Sinusitis

500mg

Ciprofloxacin tablets for urinary tract infections and bacterial sinusitis. It stops bacteria from copying their DNA, so they cannot survive or multiply.

From$0.55/ tabletView

Ciprodex Ophthalmic Solution

Bacterial Conjunctivitis

0.3% + 0.1% 5ml

Ciprofloxacin and dexamethasone eye drops for bacterial conjunctivitis. The steroid component means it should not be used long-term without medical supervision.

From$19.00/ vialView

Ciloxan Ophthalmic Solution

Bacterial Corneal Ulcers, Bacterial Conjunctivitis

5ml

Ciprofloxacin eye drops for bacterial corneal ulcers and conjunctivitis. It is for bacterial infections only and will not help viral or allergic eye conditions.

From$13.50/ vialView

Key points

  • Ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic that stops bacteria multiplying by blocking two enzymes called topoisomerases, which they need to copy, repair and pass on their DNA.
  • A boxed warning limits ciprofloxacin tablets to people who have no alternative treatment for three everyday infections: worsening chronic bronchitis, acute bladder infections and acute sinusitis, because of a risk of serious tendon, nerve and other reactions happening together.
  • Ciprofloxacin also blocks a liver enzyme called CYP1A2, so other medicines cleared mainly through that enzyme can reach higher levels in the blood if taken at the same time.

What Ciprofloxacin is used for

Doctors prescribe ciprofloxacin tablets for Infectious Diarrhoea caused by certain bacteria, for typhoid fever, and for urinary tract, bone and joint infections. For complicated infections inside the abdomen it is given together with a second antibiotic, metronidazole. Ciprofloxacin eye drops treat Bacterial Conjunctivitis and bacterial corneal ulcers, applied directly to the eye rather than swallowed.

Brands and forms in this catalogue

Cipro, Bayer’s originator ciprofloxacin tablet, comes in 250mg, 500mg and 750mg strengths. Baycip is a 500mg tablet manufactured by Cipla Ltd, offering the same ingredient under a different brand name. Ciprodex Ophthalmic Solution and Ciloxan Ophthalmic Solution are Alcon Laboratories’ originator eye drops rather than tablets: Ciprodex combines ciprofloxacin with dexamethasone, while Ciloxan contains ciprofloxacin alone. All four sit within this Antibiotics catalogue alongside other bacterial-infection treatments.

Further reading

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